Founded in 1994 by Brett Lovelady, Astro Studios is a 30-person design firm responsible for many of the world’s most recognizable tech products, including the Nike Fuelband and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Recent work includes the Mira Prism, an AR headset that, unlike competitors, doesn’t block the user’s full field of vision, and the LINK AKC, a GPS-enabled dog collar and the first social platform for pet owners. Astro also lends its expertise in consumer electronics to less conventional tech companies. One of the studio’s longtime clients is Shinola, a lifestyle brand that specializes in American-made goods, like watches and leather items. Recently, Astro led the product design and line plans for a Shinola-branded turntable, clock, and power strip—the company’s first foray into consumer electronics. Astro also helped Shinola source materials and connect to factories and developers across the United States. The studio has worked with manufacturing partners in states including New Jersey, California, Montana, Michigan, and more, showing that CE products can be made in the United States. Astro Studios had a gaming arm, Astro Gaming, which sold to Logitech in 2017.

During a typical image search session, I ran across these beautiful images of The Runwell Turntable by Peter Bellinger. I've never met Peter, but was so impressed with how he captured the product. When designing the turntable, I was obsessed with bringing order, simplicity, and warmth to a technical instrument that can often feel intimidating and cold. Peter's images effortlessly captured this approach and spirit. I really appreciate the time he took to understand the product while creating his art.

After launching last November, Shinola has added a new Runwell Wall Clock to the mix for Holiday 2017. This colorway features a matte cream dial with raised numerals and a gloss powder coated Pine Green case.

Pick up a Pine Green Runwell Clock here, and check out the images below.

Shinola has announced the Canfield Headphone Collection including Over Ear and On Ear models. At Astro Studios we helped Shinola understand their position within the crowed audio market and realized how their warm, American inspired aesthetic would look in the form of a headphone. The Canfield Headphone Collection builds on design langue and positioning already established last holiday with The Runwell Turntable.

Today's release comes with the announcement of The Canfield Earbud Collection which will launch in mid December.

For now, you can check out the Canfield Headphone Collection below, and see both the Headphone Collection and Earbud Collection preview included in the links below.

After the successful launch of the MINUS 8 Diver for Fall of 2016, I designed a Rubber Dive Strap that has released this week. Black, washed olive, and washed tan gradually introduced color to a brand that had been dominated by black, silver, and gold.

I had been thinking about the , AND WILLING premium dental collection for a few years now. The project started at and was supported by Astro Studios, so I felt I owed it to them and myself to bring this project to a close. Creating appearance models forced me to finalize all outstanding details across the product line and really think about material application.

As always, there are a few things I'd change, but it was a great learning experience to take this self-initiated project to this level of completion. Below are some of the first shots of the models as I unboxed them earlier today. "Official shots" coming soon.

Over the past few weeks I've completed a collection of six mid-height Y-3 boot concepts. Each feature a unique design story and are lightly rendered considering performance materials like neoprene and bonding juxtaposed against heritage materials like suede and nylon webbing.

I've added the work to the "Footwear Archives" project on the main page.

The Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards has awarded The Shinola Runwell Turntable an Honorable Mention in the "Products Category." I'm proud to be a part of one of the few products awarded that cannot be described as "smart." In working with Shinola, it was our goal to introduce innovation by re-thinking set expectations of a particular category. Specifically, The Runwell Turntable was designed as a warm furniture piece or accessory for the home rather than a piece of audio equipment.

A few months back Concept Kicks asked me to write on the topic of "Courage." It was open ended and gave me an opportunity to try to verbalize something I had been thinking about for a while. Given where I'm at in my career journey, I thought it would be a great time to share. Thanks again to Brett Golliff and Mr. Bailey for including me in the conversation. Check out the article below or listen to read it with the introduction directly at Concept Kicks.

Courage is getting started and continuing forward. It’s inevitable that each project carries specific challenges that can lead to moments of self doubt and present opportunities to give up.

When briefed a project, I almost immediately have a vision of what the final “thing” should look like, but all that’s in front of me is a blank page. The empty space is terrifying, and most often, the first visualizations do not align with the image I’ve rendered in my imagination. It’s frustrating as it’s right there in my mind, but I’m unable to communicate it to myself. There is no formula to get me there, or guarantee I’ll find a path I’m passionate about. I can only rely on the foundation I’ve built over years and invest hours, days, or even weeks in following the process and “doing the work.”

At a micro level, this same fear can be applied to each phase of a project or exercise within a phase. Applying details, choosing color and material, or creating communication assets are all unknowns that have to be faced head on. Leaving works undefined and ultimately unfinished has been my crutch to keep them to myself, safe from criticism.

Sharing work can be even more terrifying than beginning a project. What if people don’t like it? Even worse, what if the people that matter to me most don’t like it? A product or idea that lives in the world can be critiqued. It’s either “good” or “bad.” Only you know the compromises made with manufacturing, or the compromises made with clients. You can’t say, “but the intent was better.” All you have is what’s there, sitting on the table. It’s a vulnerable feeling to leave an object on its own unable to stand up for its worth.

For me, these fears are the driving force. I obsess over details so the “thing” that lives is a “thing” I believe in. I want to people to love what I’ve contributed to the culture, and I believe it’s my responsibility to make it happen.